December 14, 1907. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
781 
Nephrolepis Piersonii superbissima. 
For many years past N. exaltata has 
1 been undergoing a series of changes, and 
the variety above-named would represent 
the extreme form at the present day, 
though the changes may not yet cease. 
! The fronds are 2 in. or more in thickness 
owing to the eixcessive division of the 
primary pinnae and their peculiar ar¬ 
rangement. Each frond resembles a 
dense mass of moss of a beautiful light 
green colour. It was shown by F. R. 
Pierson and Co., Tarrytown-on-Hudson, 
jU.S.A., at a meeting of the R.H.S. on 
November 12th, when it received a First- 
class Certificate. Our readers may re¬ 
member that N. exaltata elegantissima 
also originated with this firm. 
- 
I V 
- Bulbs. - 
How to Grow Them Without 
Drainage in China Vases. 
I have achieved much success in grow¬ 
ing Roman Hyacinths, Freesias, Nar¬ 
cissus, Tulips, Irises, and other bulbs in 
Moss fibre and ground shells, in vases 
without drainage. It is a good method 
for those who have no greenhouse or cold 
frame and who cannot obtain suitable 
soil. The advantage of the system is that 
the vases can be placed anywhere about 
the room without causing any mess from 
water or soil coming through the base of 
the pots. The compost can be got from 
nurserymen. When preparing it for pot¬ 
ting, first rub the Moss fibre till there are 
no lumps in it, and then mix the shells 
with it and water a little at a time, using 
water at the rate of four quarts to the half 
bushel of Moss fibre until the quantity 
required is mixed. When mixed, it will 
increase in bulk by nearly one-third, and 
if taken in the hand and squeezed, little 
or no water should drop out. 
"When potting, place a few pieces of 
charcoal in the bottom of the vase'to keep 
the mixture sweet. Put in from one to 
three inches of the compost, according to 
ithe depth of the vase, and place the bulbs 
gently on the fibre, filling up to within 
.one inch of the rim. The bulbs should 
be two inches below the surface, and the 
compost placed well around them, but not 
pressed tightly, or the 'roots will not work 
freely. When potted, they will require 
little or no attention for two or three 
weeks, but after that they must be kept 
fairly moist, but not too wet; if allowed 
[to get dry for only half-an-hour the pores 
of the roots close up, and the bulbs in 
i many cases go blind. This frequently 
happens with Tulips, the roots being more 
fibrous. 
When potted, the vases should be stood 
in an airy cellar or room, and after about 
• three weeks they should be examined once 
1 a week and a little water given when re- 
! quired. After the bulbs have grown one 
inch out of the fibre they should be 
; brought into more light. If a cold frame 
i: cannot be used, put the vases on a win¬ 
dow-sill or on a garden path during the 
; ; day, taking care to protect them from 
frost. Give a little manure water when 
• the buds show. 
E. Gill. 
Rose-Coloured Aster. 
(Aster Novae=Angliae Mrs. J. F. Rayner.) 
During recent years the object of a 
number of growers and raisers of peren¬ 
nial Asters has been to get rose coloured 
varieties, and already some very fine ones 
are in cultivation, the most welcome of 
which will jirobably be the dwarf varie¬ 
ties. The subject under notice may be 
regarded as of medium stature, though 
if we give its actual height as 4 ft. to 5 ft., 
the owners of small gardens would pro¬ 
bably regard it as a tall growing variety. 
We look upon it as of medium stature 
from the fact that it is dwarfer than an¬ 
other rose variety named A. .Novae- 
Angliae rosea, which is both tall and 
late. 
The stems of Mrs. J. F. Rayner branch 
freely, so that to procure the best effects 
small plants should be set out every year 
or at least every two years, so that each 
stem may attain its maximum develop¬ 
ment, branching and flowering freely. 
The blooms are produced chiefly on the 
top of this variety, so that a bush pre¬ 
sents a flattened instead of a spiry appear¬ 
ance. The blooms are deep rose, and 
each measures about 15 in. across, with 
fairly long stalks, so that for certain pur¬ 
poses, where lightness is required, each 
stalk may be cut separately with one 
bloom on it. For bold effects in large 
vases, a good length of stem and a large 
bunch of flowers may be cut. In making 
a new plantation or reducing the size of 
old clumps, the best plan is to_cjig up the 
whole of the root-stock sometime after the 
stems have been cut down; then trench 
the ground, if that is necessary, but at 
all events it should be well dug and ma¬ 
nured. Then three small pieces with 
roots should be taken from the outside of 
the clump and planted triangular fashion 
in prepared soil. Next year a splendid 
growth will result, just as if transplanting 
had not been performed. 
Aster Novae-Angliae Mrs. J. F. Rayner. [Madaren and Sons. 
